A Visit to Ol Donyo Lodge (full text and images here) So I just came back from a week in Kenya. I initially planned the trip because of a friend’s wedding and because of a Fashion Designers without Borders trip that I planned with Chrissie Lam the Founder of The Supply Change. The trip was [...]
Safari Architects’ Brad reviews the wonders of Selinda Explorers Camp on a Private Safari Day 1 My guests and I had been waiting for this trip for the last 6 months! After a lot of banter and excitement, the day had finally arrived when we would be leaving for our Selinda adventure. Both myself and [...]
This was the month that we completed the first ever Great Plains Conservation aerial survey over Duba Plains. We have collaborated with Elephant Without Borders’ Mike Chase and Kelly Langden for what will be two annual survey, one in each the wet and dry seasons. Each May, we will then release a full report [...]
And here’s how the cheetah vs. leopard sighting at Selinda Reserve transpired. Written by Jamie Hopf, guest and photographer of this extraordinary event. Dicks of Selinda Camp was the guide. Our very first morning drive definitely set the bar high for the rest of our trip! Our guide, Dicks, spotted some cheetah tracks in the [...]
Boot Camp 2013 Each year, we close our camps at the end of January for our annual “Boot Camp” – a week of focused intensive training (not military drills!). This was the sixth Selinda Reserve Boot Camp and the second Duba Plains Boot Camp. Each year, there is always the challenge of developing a new [...]
Recent guest Di from Adelaide, Australia, encapsulates what is just so special abotu Selinda Explorer’s Camp: “What a treat. We were able to do day paddles, & bypass the hippos and elephants from the water. No ticking off the Big Five by truck, just the absolute privilege of walking quietly through the bush, following footprints [...]
Our guests, the Timms party just returned from Kenya: “…out of all the accommodations not sure which was our favourite as all had something different but Ol Donyo Lodge was just amazing. The private plunge pools a real plus and everyday just sitting in our rooms looking down at the water hole watching the elephants [...]
Dear Caitlin: My husband Peter and I had the singular pleasure of staying at Zarafa on the 5/6/7 and 8th of November. Whilst there, we were informed that the next leg of our journey which was to have been Zambia, had to be cancelled due to widespread flooding. Willem and Nienke were solicitous and incredibly [...]
From the W Family, USA who traveled in August 2012: “Ol Donyo Lodge – fabulous place! So luxurious after being in the dust and tents! Although the animal viewing is different to other parts of Kenya, the place more than makes up for it in the unusual activities that they offer. We had a great [...]
“My son and I recently had three perfect days at Selinda Reserve within a month trip to Africa. Our stay at Selinda Camp was by far the most pleasurable for many reasons but the four main would be Liz, John, Dukes and the staff. The accommodation, animals, weather, food and total experience were perfect but [...]
A rarely seen pose of a leopard balancing on its hind legs. This is Acacia, resident leopardess, which was taken near Kenya’s Mara Plains Camp in October. Many thanks to Homsy Irani for sharing this image.
“This horse safari was fantastic! Paddy and Kim have some big boots to fill [after the original guides, Patrick and Nicola, have stepped back from regular guiding] and they do it very well. Very knowledgeable, interesting, funny. I think this was an original trip, the group worked so well together, I’m really not sure [...]
We were initially very disappointed to learn just before we left for Botswana, that the Selinda Canoe Trail had been cancelled due to the sudden drop in water levels along the Selinda Spillway. We were therefore very pleased when Josh, our guide, informed us at the airstrip that we would be after all be able [...]
The Selinda Canoe Trail departure we were on was cancelled because of sudden drop in water levels along the Selinda Spillway in October but we decided to spend 5 days at Selinda nonetheless. Fortunately we were able to do three sessions of paddling on part of the canoe trail, including an overnight stay at the [...]
“Duba Plains Camp’s room and setting were excellent, Standard of food produced in such a remote location was impressive. The guide at Duba Plains was excellent. Highlight of the trip was seeing a kill at Duba Plains” Mr & Mrs L were from the UK, and traveled in Sept 2012 with Steppes Travel, UK
We stayed at Selinda from September 6 -8,2012 . Selinda was everything we desired and more. It is a magical setting with outstanding game drives,guides and service.It was recommended to us by our excellent travel agency, Explore Africa. We cannot thank Explore Africa enough for their great recommendation of Selinda. John and Liz are fabulous [...]
The trip was absolutely AMAZING. We could not have been happier with our accommodations and appreciate all the notes and surprises along the way. Mara Plains was spectacular and the level of service, quality of food and experience was above and beyond our expectations. Our guide ended up being Richard, the camp manager, who went [...]
“We have traveled across all the major continents in the world, and felt strongly that us humans, have not only used up all the natural resources severely , but have also endangered the natural habit with pollution. But with the grace given by our God our family with three generations, total twelve of us , [...]
“We appreciated having Kane to guide our game drives at Zarafa. Kane was an absolute magician in the bush! One of the highlights of the trip was at Zarafa. One of the other guests wanted to go out at 3:00 am to travel over two plus hours to an area where he might see wild [...]
“Hi Jeremy! Just got back from our Botswana trip and it was FANTASTIC! We were very impressed with the service at all the camps and hotels, and the guides in all three camps were incredible. If you ever want to use a specific guide, Foster at Zarafa, really stood out for us. Zarafa Camp was [...]
We had the most wonderful time at Selinda recently and wish to thank Liz, John, Sharon and their staff who were absolutely marvellous. Everyone was so welcoming and extended warm professional hospitality throughout stay. We were totally taken by surprise when OT appeared with another member of his staff and joined Dux to bring the [...]
Here is a lovely snippet from our guest book . We hope that you will come and make your mark in it soon! “We are out of Africa. We have Africa in our blood. We are African.” – And maybe that’s why Claire and I felt so welcome, so at home, so quickly. Or maybe [...]
Recent guests of Encompass Africa in Australia sent the following detailed feedback after their stays at Duba Plains and Selinda Camp in Botswana recently. Enjoy! ” Duba Plains was absolutely the highlight of the trip. The landscape, the wildlife, the camp were all truly special. When we arrived we went for an afternoon drive and [...]
Ol Donyo Lodge was fabulous! We all really enjoyed our time there. The rooms were all beautiful and the staff were lovely and made you feel at home. We did horseback riding, mountain biking, bush walks, bush breakfast, a sundowners with the most amazing view on top of a rock and game drives. And the [...]
“There are such lovely people who come to Mara Plains. It is such an incredible experience to be there. I don’t even have to be seeing any of the Big 5 to have a fantastic experience. I just love being surrounded by the vastness of the wild. I always feel as if I am shedding [...]
This stunning video was taken by a recent guest, Mr Alfred D, who traveled with Abendsonne Afrika, Germany to Duba Plains in Botswana Enjoy! Lions Hunting at Duba Plains in Botswana
Another great couple of days of Wild Dog action for the guests. They just love the area by our solar panels. The dogs are struggling to get their prey as the grass is so high so we are often seeing them hunt. We think they made a kill yesterday but it was in the thick [...]
We’ve just had a great stay of Pete and Linda from the UK. Big birders they rattled up 168 species in two days. A reflection of the numbers of migrants that we get at this time of year. The highlight by far was the Rosy-throated (pink throated) Longclaw. A mega special for any birder coming [...]
Geraldine and her husband visited Botswana’s Duba Plains for 3 nights in September and describe their experience as simply “Wonderful”! Sit back and enjoy their video they sent us following their stay of their memories
